Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, I will present to the House Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you kindly, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the following persons be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for appointment to the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council effective immediately for a term of three years:

Ms. Jane Arychuk of Yellowknife; and,

Ms. Denise McDonald of Inuvik.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, colleagues. I think everybody should enjoy the thanks. And clerks table too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I want to return to the GNWT fiscal sustainable strategy released. And, Mr. Speaker, this release is not an options paper. This release is not a discussion paper. It's a manifesto for the 20th Assembly. They clearly outlined that this strategy is looking at our financial situation, and they clearly state that proposed changes resulting in this review will be reflected in the upcoming budget that we'll see in days. Not weeks, not months.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my next question is for the Finance Minister is when is committee going to matter? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'm going to quote Premier Simpson: It does take time to work together, but that is important. Mr. Speaker, that was said on November 27th by Premier Simpson.

Mr. Speaker, my questions for Premier Simpson is how is he meeting those objectives, the hallmarks of consensus government, by publicly by allowing publicly the release of carbon tax policy and the restoring fiscal balance plan to the public in advance of working with Members? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll just be brief. I think the if I understood the Member correctly, I think she was curious if it included the forced growth cost reflective of certain contracts, and I think that's ultimately the question that was being asked. And then I have a clearer a separate followup. Thank you.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Kam Lake, that Ms. Renee Caron be appointed as the Equal Pay Commissioner in accordance with the Public Service Act by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories as recommended by the Legislative Assembly;

And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm going to say thank you to the Premier for that. At least it's direct, it's honest, and it's straightforward.

Mr. Speaker, in their policy release, that strategy, they talk about consulting with employees, not Members of the such as us as the MLAs. They talk about the the Finance Minister mentioned she had crushing public pressure and outcry to make decisions. My question for them is why are they going to employees through an internal survey that they can be individually identified to act like a rat squad to tell the government where to cut and save money...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister talks as if she's still in the 19th Assembly. Mr. Speaker, this is about the 20th Assembly making these decisions, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister clearly and simply will she work with committee in advance of releasing this information? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister, not the Premier in this case obviously, has just said public their public position is they're responding to the cries of the public, not to Members. That's what I just heard. And she said it was shared to get it out there but my letter to my office says confidential. So how am I supposed to share it? So, Mr. Speaker, my question, I guess for the Finance Minister, who is a recycled Minister from the last government, is how are Members supposed to share confidential documents when you stamp them confidential and you get to publicly release them without...